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Choosing an early childhood education center can be one of the hardest decisions for a parent to make when it comes to looking for places with quality learning programs for babies and toddlers. Parents want the best for their children, especially in the early years when babies are the most impressionable. A child's brain grows like a sponge as it absorbs input from the world around it. This makes it critical for parents to find educators that are incorporating research-based curriculum that is going to give their children a jump start on intellectual development.

Many parents are realizing the benefits of sign language in communicating with their babies and it is increasing in popularity all over the world. Research has shown so many benefits for both parent and child when sign language is utilized that it only makes sense to incorporate it in early childhood education. This will ultimately give parents and educators a common goal and a universal language to interact with the child. The best part is that the child will get constant reinforcement of sign language in both environments making it that much more successful and getting children on a sure path to early literacy and cognitive learning.

Using a sign language program in the classroom has been proven to:

Reduce frustration-

Babies and toddlers don't have to rely on pointing, whining and crying to get their messages across. When they can communicate with signs, parents and teachers don't have to guess what it is the child really wants. The result is less frustration and a quieter, more positive environment for babies and teachers alike.

Increase parent involvement-

When children come home and are using signs it is going to automatically get parents involved in the learning process because they are going to want to know what the child is saying. Parents become an active participant as they are encouraged to participate in the child's learning through observation as well as updates from teachers. Parents are going to love being involved and there will be reciprocated joy between the parent and child when they are able to understand one another through signs.

Decrease biting and other aggressive behaviors-

Whether at home or in childcare, signing helps babies and toddlers to express their feelings without biting, hitting and pushing. When the guessing is taken out of the equation and the child is getting their needs met then there is no need for tears or tantrums because the child is feeling understood.

Help teachers be more observant and responsive-

When babies and toddlers use signs, teachers tend to watch carefully and take in everything that the child is saying non-verbally. This makes it an active interaction between both the care giver and the child resulting in a faster response and the child is likely to get their needs met quickly and accurately. Imagine how that makes babies and toddlers feel when they are able to share what they need, feel and remember through sign language.

Build trust and affection between babies and their caregivers-

Communicating means connecting. When children feel understood they are more likely to trust that they will be taken care of even though they are separated from their parents. With this trust comes feelings of contentment and well-being.

Provide a universal language-

The best example of this is children who come from bilingual homes. Signs create a bridge between the 2 languages and the child not only hears the word but they also see the sign and it helps them to understand that they are the same thing. Signing also creates consistency in classrooms where children sometimes use different words for the same thing.

As you can see there are many amazing benefits of sign language for early childhood education centers. When babies and toddlers are able to share their world's through signs they are going to be happier and benefit from positive emotional development. Bridging the gap between unclear communication through sign language makes life in the classroom more peaceful, fun and rewarding for everybody.

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